India and Russia have agreed to accelerate their efforts to achieve the 20 billion US Dollars trade target by 2015. The bilateral trade between the countries stood at 9 billion U S Dollars in 2011. Addressing a joint press conference with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the trade figures for the first quarter of this year are encouraging but more efforts are need to be done. He said, during the Inter Governmental Commission meet, the focus was on economic aspects of relationship between the two contries.

Mr Krishna said, besides discussion on strategic sectors, both the sides also reviewed progress on some initiatives undertaken after Annual Summit in 2011 at Moscow. These include the joint drive to harness the benefits of modernisation and industrial cooperation by pooling in the vast human and scientific resources of the two countries. The External Affairs Minister said the first meeting of Joint Working Group set up in this connection will take place shortly.

Mr Dmitry offered Russian expertise in the field of energy, particularly atomic energy. He said India is experiencing tremendous industrial growth and energy is required for it. He said Moscow can provide safe and secure Nuclear Power Station. Mr Dmitry said, both the countries is now venturing in to the joint production instead of bilateral trade.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister said that both the sides can cooperate in the field of knowledge, air and space technologies. Both countries can produce combat air crafts, multitask interceptors and helicoptors. The Russian leader asserted for more business to business contacts. He also advocated for easy VISA regime to enhance trade between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister was given a presentation about the missile's capabilities and recent achievements along with live demonstration of the mobile launcher. The two sides had formed the joint venture to produce the supersonic cruise missiles in 1998 and since then, all three wings of the Indian armed forces have ordered Brahmos.

India and Pakistan have agreed to hold meaningful and result-oriented discussion to demilitarise Siachen glacier region. The number of casualties in Siachen in last one year is 26.

In a written reply, Defence Minister A K Antony said in Lok Sabha today that 12th round of Defence Secretary- level talks were held between India and Pakistan last year on diplomatic measures for demilitarisation of Siachen glacier region. It was agreed to continue the discussions in a meaningful and result-oriented manner.

He said both sides welcomed the ongoing dialogue process which is contributing to an enhanced understanding of each other's position.

Government orders fresh probe into the procurement of 12 helicopters for the Indian Air Force. The defence ministry in a statement said any complaint or allegation received will be the investigated and contractual provisions will be invoked in case any wrong doing is established.Earlier Talking to reporters outside Parliament Mr. A K Antony said, he would seriously pursue the inquiry into the allegations of corruption in the chopper deal. He directed his ministry officials to get a fresh report from the Indian Embassy in Rome following a media report alleging malpractices in the procurement of 12 helicopters for the VVIP Communication Squadrons of the Indian Air Force from Ms. Agusta Westland. 

There were media reports also in February 2012 about investigations undertaken by Italian authorities into alleged unethical dealings by Finmeccanica Italy. Following this, information was sought by MoD from the Indian Embassy in Rome. The Indian Embassy reported that Italian authorities were conducting preliminary investigations on allegations of financial malpractices occurring within Finmeccanica and its subsidiaries in general. There was no specific probe being conducted on India-related transactions. There is no clear indication at this stage whether the India related deal would be probed on the strength of preliminary investigations.According to Defence Ministry,the contract for the procurement of the helicopters contains the standard provisions against use of undue influence and employment of agents and payment of agency commission. A Pre-Contract Integrity Pact has also been signed between Agusta Westland and MoD.

Defence Ministry said,any such complaint or allegation received will be investigated and the contractual provisions invoked, in case any wrong doing is established, in addition to action that may be required under law. Earlier, Italian Defence company Finmeccanica said that its subsidiary Agusta Westland is not involved in any irregularity in the deal. 

Surface to surface cruise missile BRAHMOS was successfully test fired from the Interim Test Range, Chandipur from Balesore district of Odisha today. 

Built on Indo-Russian joint venture technology the missile was tested from the LC-3 of ITR. 

Carrying two hundred to three hundred kilograms of conventional and nuclear warheads, this three ton weight supersonic cruise missile can hit the enemy target up to Two Hundred Ninety Kilometer distance. 

Brahmos has been deployed to the Army and Navy Wing of Indian Armed Forces. It was last test fired on 4th of this month from Pokhran in Rajasthan